Thanks for Smith's letter of 17 February [1791] and the trouble Smith took at auction of Paitoni's books, information on Harrison's herbarium, and botanical news. Arrangements for sending plates of L'Héritier's "Sertum Anglicum". Requests supplement of "Flora Pedemontana" and other botanical books. Pleased by reviews of his "Sketches of the progress of botany". His health "wretched" all winter.

[Draft or copy]

Apologises for delay in replyigng to Smith's letter of 22 October [1790], caused by a severe indisposition all winter. Thanks for Smith's remarks on his book. Responds to points in Smith's letter: Plukenet's authority, John Ray's manuscripts, difficulty of his acquiring books.

Would have replied to Pulteney's letter of 24 May [1791] sooner had the enclosed "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 arrived earlier. "Quite out of patience" with waiting for L'Héritier's recent publications; offers to send Pulteney's sketches to him. Discussion of recent publications, including by Allioni, Cavanilles, Hedwig, Schreber, and Labillardière.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 5 August [1791] copy of "Linnean Transactions" [vol 1]; wishes such an endeavour was in effect 20 or 30 years ago; praises papers by [Adam] Afzelius, Smith, and [Thomas] Martyn [see RelatedMaterial below]. Declines, for time being, Smith's offer to procure Cavanilles' "Monadelphiae". Thanks Smith for sending work on Syrian plants [Labillardiére's "Icones plantarum Syriae rariorum"].

[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "strolling about", he has visited Lord Bute's garden and raised 'Zizania aquatica'. Requests Vandelli's "Viridarium Grisley Lusitanicum" and Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum", when published.

Sends copies of his "Sketches of the Progress of Botany" for L'Héritier and [William] Curtis.

Sends books and account of money owing to him. Keen for Pulteney to publish in "Linnean Transactions". Just returned from a trip to Lord Lewisham's [George Legge] in Kent to see 'Convolvulus speciosus'.

Thanks Smith for sending books, including L'Héritier, encloses bill, clearing his account with Smith; asks after text for Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum" and second part of Gaertner, and price of "Flora cochinchinensis". [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "greatly enriched" his herbarium by a visit to Lord Bute's garden [John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792)], at High Cliff, Hampshire.

Thanks for Pulteney's letter of 4 [Dec 1791] and bill. Discusses arrival of remaining prints for first volume of Cavanilles' ["Icones et descriptiones plantarum quae aut sponte in Hispania crescunt"]. Gaertner dead, unclear if his 5 remaining "Centuriae" will be published. Laments death of Dr Pictairn, said that his collection will be sold.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 9 December [1791]. Requests copy of Smith's "Flora Lapponica" and remaining parts of Gaertner. Expects Labillardière's circumnavigation of the globe will delay his work. Requests remainder of Cavanilles' "Monadelphiae".

Apologises for delay in sending L'Héritier's works, "but the fault is not in me but in the French revolution, which has turned the head of our friend [...] & made him turn tail upon us botanists". Other European publications, including by Cavanilles and Labillardière. Sends "Flora Lapponica" and Swartz' "Prodromus".

Has just been at Windsor to look at the Queen's [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] herbarium, formerly [John] Lightfoot's. Hopes Pulteney will come to London this spring.

Thanks for "Flora Lapponica" and [Olof] Swartz' "Prodromus", has since acquired his "Observations". Fears everything in France will stop except bloodshed [France went to war with Austria in April 1792], wishes L'Héritier was in England. Wants to delay purchasing [Antonio] Cavanilles' "Monadelphiae" for its 'Gerania' content as L'Héritier is also publishing on same. Encloses specimen of 'Anemone nemorosa', following erroneous identification as 'Polypodium trifoliatum' by Mr Burrel in last "Gentleman's Magazine", has observed that the "appearances" on the underleaf are not insect eggs but fungi of 'Peziza' genus, asks Smith to examine and propose names.

Specimen of 'Anemone nemorosa'.

Returned from Matlock, [Derbyshire], 4 days ago in "perfect health". Read over Pulteney's Linnean Society paper with "great pleasure". Intends to go into the country for 6 weeks in a day or two. Sending second number of his "Spicilegium botanicum"; account of money owing. Still awaiting the letterpress for L'Héritier's plates, though their "excellence [...] disarms one's anger". Sorry to hear that [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert is still an invalid. About to go to Windsor to arrange [John] Lightfoot's herbarium and occasionally instruct the Queen [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] in botany. L'Héritier has written for Gaertner's second volume for them.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 16 [July 1792] and books; congratulates Smith on return of his health; state of his account with Smith. Expects he will have to draw a line soon regarding his purchase of works on exotic botany. Book orders for himself and a gentleman of his neighbourhood.

Should his 'Lycoperdon' paper be intended for publication he has some small additions to make. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in a "very low & depressed state". Grandmaison has published a French edition of his "View of the Writings of Linnaeus". Cannot come to London to examine Linnaean shells; his own collection contains nearly 1000 distinct species; he has lately inspired two young gentleman of the area in natural history, including [William George] Maton, whom Smith has already shown the Linnaean shells. Hears much of Bulliard's book on fungus ["Histoire des champignons de la France.." (1791-1812)].

Thanks for Pulteney's letter of 25 July [1792], he is "quite well & stout again". Sending books, difficulties of getting books from Strasbourg now. Account of money owing. Grandmaison served himself just as he did Pulteney, knows little of him. Bulliard's "Fungi" complete and an excellent book, but doubts getting it from France. Going to Norfolk next week, to return end of September. Offers to acquire Hedwig's "Historia Muscorum".

Encloses bill for books, discharging his account. Reluctant to purchase periodical works such as Hedwig's, owing to difficulty of completing them.

Asks to borrow Smith's folio copy of [Johann] Hedwig's "Historia muscorum" for the catalogue of plants he is compiling for Nichols' "History of Leicestershire", the previous editions are not proper to reference from. Reflects on his youthful enthusiasm for 'Musci' and small plants inspired by [John] Ray's "Synopsis" and his exchanges with [William] Hudson. Visited late Earl of Bute's "very rich" botanical library, 300 feet long conservatory, and four acre garden [John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792)]. Asks for L'Héritier's current location.

Asks Smith to obtain list of foreign botanical books Haslock currently has in hand, as he wishes to obtain several titles of repute, including Schmidel's continuation of Gesner ["Historiae plantarum fasciculus" (1759)], and Hedwig's work ["Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum" (1787-1797)].

Asks if Smith received his letter of 20 November 1793.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 28 [January 1793], apologises for being a "troublesome correspondent". Desires Smith to compare [Sir Joseph] Bank's copy of Hedwig's ["Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum" (1787-1797)] with the one Haslock has for sale, and if satisfactory to purchase it for him. Directions for sending this and plates of L'Héritier's "Sertum Anglicum". His account with Smith. Pleased to hear that L'Héritier is to now focus exclusively on botany. He has given up on the French since they stepped over their own borders, even though they were provoked to it.

Asks Smith to show Dr [Thomas] Rackett the Linnaean shells.

Does not know how to ask to borrow Hedwig work from Sir Joseph Banks'; he has decided not to purchase it, being unwilling to commit to a work not yet completed. Thanks for sending rest of Gaertner.